Photo Credit to Trini Crocker Photography

Guest Post - - - No, I'm Not Jewish: Why I Have a Star of David Tattoo Anyway

image via Tori Long

I am often asked if I have a Star of David tattoo because I'm Jewish, and the obvious answer (to readers, I hope) is that I am not Jewish, I am Catholic. So, why  the tattoo? Well, my sweet friend Katie asked me to write something up about my Star of David tattoo for her blog, and I've offered an explanation for my tattoo here.

"Remember your promise to me; it is my only hope." Psalm 119:49

Psalm 119 names for itself no author, but it has almost universally been taken to be a Psalm of David. And appropriately so; it is written according to his style, and the vividness and brutal honesty of verse 49 render a sharpness typical of David's writing. David was no stranger to desperation, but he was also no stranger to the help and love of God. David is among the most well-known rulers in human history, and he was a mighty king indeed. But, with the exception of his many lapses in judgment and his stumbling into sin, David would hardly consider his success his own. He knew where the power behind his reign truly was, and he in turn knew where praise and thanksgiving were due.

David was a man of simple beginnings, a shepherd boy whose own father was shocked that he would be chosen by God for great things. Perhaps the most popular story which animates for us David's simplicity is the story of David and Goliath. We all know this one: David, a young boy, masterfully fought Goliath, a huge man, with a sling and some stones before dealing him a final blow with the man's own sword, which David used to cut off his head. David's simplicity is always matched with God's sovereignty (in this case, over the Philistines and therefore over the fate of His people Israel).

This is the David I think of when I look at my Star of David tattoo. Not necessarily the David who cut off a man's head with the man's own sword, but the David who unexpectedly stood as a man of victory against his enemies with God's help, against all odds; the David whose greatest enemy was ultimately himself.

See, like David, I'm a sinner. A miserable, wretched, awful sinner. God has given me so much, and sometimes, like David in the story of Bathsheba, I see something else I want, I take it, and deal out some collateral damage along the way to clean up the mess I've made.

Thankfully, David's God is my God. This God of great mercies who makes promises and keeps them even when we fail to keep our covenant with Him calls me His own, His daughter, His beloved. This Savior of mine who is so mighty in word and deed is the very promise God kept to David in the flesh; the promise to bring a great ruler from David's line. And this heir to David's throne is the king and keeper of my heart, who loves me and keeps His promises to me even when I fail.

And how can I be surprised when He does? He is the fulfillment of the promise to His servant David, whom He loved tirelessly through good times and bad times and worse times.

A few people have asked me why I didn't get a cross tattoo if I wanted a tattoo to remind me that "God is faithful to me even when I'm not faithful to Him," and the simplest answer I can give is "because I want to remember the promise that was fulfilled in the cross."

David is my favorite person in the Old Testament, without a doubt. I trust sincerely that he prays for me and pleads on my behalf.

And I know, from his example -- which was not always an extraordinary example, but is special to me precisely because it was often an example of wretchedness and failure -- that God is a God who keeps His promises, no matter what.

And I need a permanent reminder.

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Tori Long is a proud Catholic and feminist whose hobbies include reading, cuddling kitty cats, and smashing the patriarchy right in its face. She is a pro-life activist, theology student, and is otherwise known as the Pink-Haired Papist. Her own blog can be found at: pinkhairedpapist.blogspot.com 

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Like My Mother Does

image via www.cassiepeasedesigns.com

Yesterday was the Feast of the Annunciation, the day that a fourteen year old girl said yes to God and literally saved the world.

When I was fourteen, I didn't even have the ability to sit through a guitar lesson.

But, wow, how beautiful is it that our Momma, without knowing what would come out of it, said 'yes' to bearing God's son?

What if she had said no? What if she had anxiety over how this baby would change her plans? She was supposed to marry Joseph and live a quiet life, and know suddenly she was to be pregnant, and unwed? It was almost a death sentence!

But she said yes. And thank the Lord she did, because she helped save humanity.

That is what we're all called to. To trust God so much, that we say yes, not knowing what that yes leads to. Our heavenly mother is an example of our potential.

God loves us so much that He gave us the ability to say no to His plans. But imagine the beauty that could come from our humble acceptance of His will!

I'm praying for you, that you see the beauty in God's plan for your life, and ask that you pray for me, that I understand the same.

What I learned in 2013

Not all friendships last forever. Sometimes, things need to end, so you can be reminded that the only thing that lasts is God.

It's okay if friendships end. You know that silly, cliche quote: "If one door closes, another one opens?" Sometimes, that's really true, and sometimes, you realize that door wasn't so wonderful from the outside as it was from the inside.

Don't settle for "good enough". Always strive for better. Are you happy with your group of friends? Make new ones. Are you happy with that B in your lit class? Aim for that B+. Going to mass on Sundays and doing fine? Add confession, daily prayer, adoration and/or daily mass into the mix.

There are things that you have no control over. That's okay, too. Sometimes, you can physically do nothing, but don't lose hope.

Never underestimate the power of prayer. God loves His children, and He hears their cries and their petitions. He will comfort them.

This year was full of lessons, and I am excited to find out what God has in store for me in 2014!

what true joy looks like. you might be surprised

Every life has pain. No one gets by without suffering. But I have witnessed a life that is born out of suffering. And it is beautiful. And because we can't rewind the past, we need to live fully in the present. Because our hope is in Jesus Christ, and the life everlasting to come after all is said and done. And I want heaven. I want it for me, I want it for my husband, I want it for  my children. And I want it for you. I want that more than anything in Pottery Barn. But we need to trust.

Read the rest of the post here

"May you trust ...

"May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be."
-St. Therese of Lisieux